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David E. Leininger

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Adult study

SermonStudio

God, The Father -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father...." Really?
God ... Almighty -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty...." Do you now?
Maker Of Heaven And Earth -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth...." No surprise.
Jesus Christ ... Our Lord -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son,
Suffered ... Dead ... Buried -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
He Descended Into Hell -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
He Rose Again -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
He Ascended -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
He Shall Come To Judge -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
The Holy Ghost -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in the Holy Ghost...."
The Holy Catholic Church -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
We have stretched from the sublime, soaring through the heights of creation with almighty God; we ha
The Communion Of Saints -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of Saints...." Those last two
The Forgiveness Of Sins -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of
The Resurrection Of The Body -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of
The Life Everlasting -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him s

Biblical Study

SermonStudio

No False Witness -- Deuteronomy 19:16-21 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, the two men involved in the di
No Covetousness -- Matthew 6:24-33 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
No one can serve two masters.
No Stealing -- Exodus 22:1-4 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back five head of cat
No Adultery -- John 8:2-11 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he
No Murder -- Genesis 9:1-7 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill
Honoring Parents -- Mark 7:1-13 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jes
God's Name -- Matthew 5:33-37 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, "Do not break your oath, but keep
The Sabbath -- Mark 2:23--3:6 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they bega
No Idols! -- Isaiah 44:9-17 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.
One God, Only One -- Matthew 19:16-22 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t

Illustration

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t

Preaching

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t

Sermon

SermonStudio

Christmas Construction -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- David E. Leininger -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Ancient Babylon is the setting for our text.
Do You Hear What I Hear? -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 -- David E. Leininger -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Years ago, a wise teacher of preachers advised us to prepare our sermons with the Bible in one hand

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t

Stories

StoryShare

Where Have All The Good Samaritans Gone? -- Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 1:1-14, Amos 7:7-17, Psalm 82 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2022
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Follow The Star -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, Psalm 29 -- David E. Leininger, David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Rick McCracken-Bennett, Frank R. Fisher -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2022
Note: This installment was originally published in 2007.Contents

SermonStudio

The Legacy Of Jesus -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- David E. Leininger -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2009
A certain widow expected to inherit all her late husband's wealth.
Repressive Religion -- Luke 13:10-17 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2009
I wish it were not so, but it is. Religion can be horribly repressive sometimes.
Choosing A God -- 1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2009
For sheer drama, there is little in fact or fiction that can surpass the stories of Elijah in 1 King
Eyes Up! -- Luke 21:25-36 -- David E. Leininger -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2009
A bit of a contrast, isn't it? The sweet strains of "Away In A Manger" followed by "...
When God Overdoes It -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2009
A couple of years ago, a fascinating book by Mitch Albom hit the bestseller lists, Tuesdays with
Year-Round Christmas -- 1 Kings 17:1-24 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2009
"When elephants fight, the grass suffers." So goes an old African proverb.1 The elephants in questio
The Speed Bump On The Road To Bethlehem -- Luke 3:1-6 -- David E. Leininger -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2009
In the movie Life Or Something Like It,1 every day at the corner of Fourth and Sanders in dow
A Faith That Matters Between Sundays -- Romans 3:19-28 -- David E. Leininger -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2009
On October 31, 1571, an Augustinian monk by the name of Martin Luther marched up to the castle churc
The Forgiveness Business -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2009
It's a wonderful story. At least, it is to me. Others might not like it so well.
Ready Or Not, Here He Comes! -- Luke 3:7-18 -- David E. Leininger -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2009
John is an amazing character, isn't he? Not what we would expect as we come up to Christmas.
Our Family Inheritance -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2009
We speak of being "baptized into Christ." Baptized ... wanna fight? Let's talk about baptism.
The News From Nazareth -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- David E. Leininger -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2009
"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer...." We hear a lot about old Rudy these days.
Lust -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2009
Remember the furor that arose a few years ago when Jimmy Carter was interviewed by Playboy ma
The Trouble With Stables -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- David E. Leininger -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2009
What do you know about stables? They are not pretty places. The light is not that good.
Greed -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2009
Scripture offers a wealth (if I may use that term) of material about greed, about the love of money
Silly Goose -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- David E. Leininger -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2009
Great words -- as succinct a description as can be found anywhere of what we are called to be and do
The Good Samaritan -- Luke 10:25-37 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2009
This is a familiar story.
God's Picture -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- David E. Leininger -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2009
An old story has it that a little boy was feeling very lonesome for his father.
A Tale Of Two Sisters -- Luke 10:38-42 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2009
With a title like "A Tale Of Two Sisters," this should open with something like, "It was the best of
The Gospel By Starlight -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2009
"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
God's Plans -- Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 -- David E. Leininger -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2009
Martin Luther considered Psalm 118 his favorite. He wrote, "This is the psalm that I love ...
Washed Clean -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- David E. Leininger -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2009
You may have seen the movie that came out several years ago called O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The Judas Gene -- John 18:1--19:42 -- David E. Leininger -- Good Friday - C -- 2009
Why did Judas do it? Was it the money, the thirty pieces of silver?

Worship

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
For May 25, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A mat, like an exercise mat, or a blanket.

Note: You can do this all by yourself, but if you want to have more fun, help your children role-play the story. Select one child to be the sick man, and a few children to be the crowd. I usually play the role of Jesus so I can easily guide things. As you tell the story, have the sick man try to crawl, and have a group of children be the crowd blocking him, and then after Jesus helps him, have the man stand up, roll the mat up under his arm, and walk away smiling. Have fun with it!

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
(This particular installment of StoryShare is adapted from a review of “Seven Psalms” that I wrote for Messenger, our denominational magazine.)

During the night, Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (v. 9)

It all began with a dream.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
The church is a work in progress — and we are expected to be a critical part of that church’s work. In the absence of synagogue worship, Lydia and her fellow believers meet anyway at the riverside. Their faithfulness leads to Paul’s dream which helps create something where there was nothing. The passage from Revelation creates a target for us to aim for, and to work for, even as we wait for its perfect fulfillment.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Acts 16:9-15
John Calvin claimed that this is a text to stir up our commitments to reach out to those in need, especially in this time of intolerance towards immigrants and the poor. A 2024 Gallup poll indicates that 56% of Americans favor mass deportation. And in the most recent poll on the subject of the poor, (a 2002 NPR/Kaiser poll), 52% of Americans found the poor not to have a proper work ethic. It is unlikely we have outgrown that prejudice. In response, the reformer of Geneva wrote:

SermonStudio

Wayne Brouwer
During World War II, many members of the Lutheran church in Germany lost their faith because Hitler seduced them into ways of living that kept them from practicing their faith. But there was one man whom Hitler could not compromise. His name was Martin Niemöller. During World War I, Niemöller had been a great hero in the German military but when the Second World War came, he refused to bow to the authorities. He was marching to a different drumbeat. And march he did.
Forrest E. Chaffee
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Stephen P. McCutchan
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us....
-- Psalm 67:1

Steven E. Albertin
(Sing the first verse and chorus of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic.")

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
1

Charles D. Reeb
Life has a way of presenting us with defining moments. I remember facing a defining moment in my ministry. I went to see a man in the hospital who was dying. He was not active in the church I pastored, but I knew who he was. When I entered his hospital room, his whole family was standing in a semi-circle around his bed. They greeted me, and then the man told his family that he wanted a moment alone with me. So they left us alone.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said to the paralysed man, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." In our worship today let us explore all that paralyses us, then let us respond to Jesus' command to stand up and walk.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of ridicule that I keep my head down.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of doing the wrong thing that I do nothing at all.
Christ, have mercy.

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